Nintendo Unveils Wii U Console, Due Out in 2012

The annual Electronic Entertainment Expo — better known as E3 — is back open for business in Los Angeles and Nintendo has kicked off the video game trade show with the announcement of a new console called Wii U.

The Wii U’s most striking feature is a new controller that features a touch screen allowing players to use their fingers or a stylus to control the game in addition to the normal buttons and joysticks. The console also has a camera built in and facing the player, allowing for video conferencing.

In single-player games, the new controller can display information on its screen that does not appear on the TV and The information and viewpoint can also change in the new controller based on the orientation of its gyroscope.

In multiplayer games, the player using the new controller can have a different experience than those looking at the TV. This will offer a wide variety of competitive and cooperative opportunities.

The Wii U also supports HD image output up to 1080p, and will be backward compatible with Wii controllers and games.